Navy comparison: China vs Russia
Overview
China operates a fleet of 1036 ships compared to 565 for Russia. Of these, 1023 and 477 are in active service respectively.
The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 81 submarines, 3 vs 1 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 9 destroyers, 47 vs 19 frigates, 50 vs 99 corvettes, 107 vs 83 amphibious ships, 94 vs 70 patrol boats, 0 vs 6 coastal boats, 58 vs 50 mine warfare ships (China vs Russia).
China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while Russia's is the Russian Navy.
People's Liberation Army Navy 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Total ships | 1036 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 1023 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Russian Navy 🇷🇺
| Official Name | Russian Navy |
| Total ships | 565 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 477 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Chinese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 73 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | |
| Destroyers | 58 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 47 | |
| Corvettes | 50 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 94 | |
| Amphibious ships | 107 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 58 | |
| Cargo ships | 27 | |
| Support ships | 468 | |
| Other ships | 51 | |
Russian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 81 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 1 | |
| Destroyers | 9 | |
| Cruisers | 2 | |
| Frigates | 19 | |
| Corvettes | 99 | |
| Coastal boats | 6 | |
| Patrol boats | 70 | |
| Amphibious ships | 83 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 50 | |
| Cargo ships | 5 | |
| Support ships | 116 | |
| Other ships | 24 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or Russia?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to Russia's 565 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Russia?
Russia operates more submarines with 81 compared to China's 73.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or Russia?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Russia's 1.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or Russia?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to Russia's 9.
Which navy has more frigates, China or Russia?
China operates 47 frigates compared to Russia's 19.
How do the China and Russia navies compare in size?
China's navy is 1.8 times larger than Russia's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 565).